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Fungal contamination assessment in Portuguese elderly care centers

C Viegas1, M Almeida-Silva, A Quintal Gomes

  • 1a Environmental Health RG , Lisbon School of Health Technology-IPL , Lisbon , Portugal.

Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. Part A
|February 22, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Fungal contamination was assessed in Portuguese elderly care centers, finding Penicillium and Aspergillus species to be most common. Storage areas had the highest fungal load, while living rooms had the lowest.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Mycology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Elderly individuals spend significant time indoors, increasing exposure to indoor air pollutants.
  • Bioaerosols, including fungi, can impact the health of vulnerable populations like the elderly.
  • Understanding indoor fungal contamination is crucial for maintaining healthy living environments in care facilities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize fungal contamination in various microenvironments within Portuguese elderly care centers.
  • To compare fungal loads before and after occupancy to assess the impact of human activity.
  • To identify prevalent fungal species and genera in both air and surface samples.

Main Methods:

  • Fungal presence was quantified using conventional culture-based methods and molecular techniques.
  • Samples were collected from bedrooms, living rooms, canteens, storage areas, and outdoor environments.
  • Bioaerosol evaluation was conducted pre- and post-occupancy.

Main Results:

  • Fungal loads ranged from 32 colony-forming units (CFU) per cubic meter in bedrooms to 228 CFU/m³ in storage areas.
  • Penicillium sp. (38.1%) and Aspergillus sp. (16.3%) were the most frequently isolated fungi from air samples.
  • Storage areas exhibited the highest fungal concentrations, whereas living rooms showed the lowest.

Conclusions:

  • Penicillium and Aspergillus species are dominant fungal contaminants in elderly care centers.
  • Fungal contamination levels vary significantly across different indoor microenvironments.
  • Further research may be needed to assess the health implications of specific fungal species found in these settings.

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